Apparatus for uncurling fabric edges



J. H. POPE ET AL APPARATUS FOR UNCUBLING FABRIC EDGES Sept. 1, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1948 'l'llll JNVENTORS. JOHN H F'OF'ENELSON W,CARTER,

ATTO RNEYS.

Sept. 1, 1953 J. H. POPE ET AL 2,650,413

APPARATUS FOR UNCURLING FABRIC EDGES Filed June 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS JOHN H POPE, NELSON W.CAQTER.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUSFOR UNCURLING FABRIC EDGES Application June 22, 1948, Serial No. 34,474

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the processing of fabrics and relates moreparticularly to a novel apparatus for uncurling the curled edges offabrics.

As is well known, the edges of flat fabrics, especially fiat knittedfabrics, show a strong tendency to curl towards one surface or the otherof the fabric. In fabrics knitted on a one or twobar tricotwarp-knitting machine the edges curl toward the back or bottom surfaceof the fabric, but in other fabrics the edges may curl toward either theface or the back of the fabric. It is necessary that these edges beuncurled before the edges of two pieces of fabric or the two edges of afolded single fabric are joined. Usually the edges of two fabrics arejoined for the purpose of having selected sides of the fabric face eachother to produce a certain effect in the final product, whereas the twoedges of a single fabric are joined to form a tube preparatory to dyeingor other treatment.

It has previously been proposed to uncurl the two edges of a singlefabric, preparatory to joining them to form a tube, by superimposing theedges with the curled portions facing away from each other and passingthe superimposed edges between two opposed continuous belts running atright anglesto the direction of travel of the fabric and in frictionalcontact with the curled edges. When the edges of the fabric curl towardthe side of the fabric which it is desired to have on the inside of thetube, it is necessary, when employing the foregoing expedient, to turnthe joined fabric tube inside out, before dyeing or other treatment,which is obviously a time consuming operation. Furthermore, when theedges of two fabrics are to be joined and the curl of the edges istoward the sides of the fabrics which are to face each other duringjoining, it has been impossible to employ this expedient. Moreover, theprior apparatus employed was also disadvantageous in that it requiredtwo uncurling belts, together with means to drive each of them as wellas means to adjust and hold them a suitable distance apart. Thisresulted in a relatively complex structure which if not kept properlyadjusted would not satisfactorily uncurl the edges of the fabric orwould permit one of the two uncurling belts to pull the edge of thefabric it was uncurling out of alignment with the other edge of thefabric.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an apparatus forsimultaneously and. continuously uncurling two curled fabric edges whichface each other which will be free from the foregoing disadvantages andwhich will be especially simple in construction and eflicient in use.

It is another important object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod of uncurling two curled fabric edges which face each other.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for and method of forming a fabric tube from a flat fabric.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will appear from the followingdetailed description and claims.

The foregoing objects may be achieved by facing two curled fabric edgestoward each other and passing an uncurling member between and infrictional contact with the curled edges in a direction having acomponent transverse to the edges. It has also been found that a flatfabric may be converted to tubular form by doubling the fabric with itscurled edges facing each other, passing an uncurling member between andin frictional contact with the edges to uncurl them, trimming the edges,if desired, and joining them together by sewing or in any other manner.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the annexeddrawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the uncurlingapparatus showing a fabric being treated,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the uncurling apparatus with the edgetrimmer and sewing machine omitted for clarity and,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the uncurling apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral I represents the fabricbeing operated upon by the uncurling apparatus of this invention whereinthe various elements are mounted on a base plate 2 which may be aseparate plate as shown, or may be an extension of sewing machine tabletop 3. Alternatively, the base plate may be eliminated completely andthe various elements supported independently.

Secured to the base plate 2 is an angle-iron bracket 4 to which isadjustably fastened the lower uncurling plate assembly generallyindicated by reference numeral 5. This lower uncurling plate assemblyincludes an arm 6 having an elongated slot 1 and is fastened to thebracket 4 by bolts 8. The arm 6 has fixed thereto or integral therewitha lower uncurling plate 9 having a free end I 0 which is bent away from3 the plane of the plate forming a rounded edge over which the fabricmay be drawn without being damaged.

Also fastened to the base plate 2 is a second bracket I l carrying aT-shaped supporting member l2 having the ends I? of its arms l lbent atright angles to the plane of the T. Holes !5 are provided in the ends l3of each of the arms 14 and a shaft I6 is passed through these holes.

Pivotally mounted on the shaft i5 is the upper uncurling plate assemblygenerally indicated by reference numeral H, which includes the arm 38and an upper uncurling plate E9. The uncurling plate is isspring-pressed toward the uncurl= ing plate 9 by a spring which isfastened to the arm it by bolt 2i and to the base plate 2 by means ofeye bolt 22. An adjustable stop is provided to limit the downward travelof the arm GB carrying the uncurling plate H9. The stop 23 is fastenedto the T-shaped supporting member I2 by means of nut and bolt 24 and maybe adjusted by rotation about the axis of the bolt 24 and by shiftingits position along slot 25.

The edges of the uncurling plates 9 and I9 may be chamfered or roundedto reduce the friction between them and the fabric bein treated, whichchamfering or rounding may be restricted to the forward edges of theuncurling plates since these are the edges first approached by thefabric.

The bracket i is also adapted to support arm .26 having a slot 2] in itsfree end and an idler pulley 28 is adjustably mounted in said slot Zl'by means of nut and bolt 29. A shaft 38 mounted on bracket 3! carriestwo pulleys 32 and 33 which may be integral or may be fastened togetherby means of a bearing member 3-3 to rotate as a unit. Belt 34 driven byany suitable means (not shown) is trained about pulley 33 and drivespulley 32 about which and pulley 28, the uncurling belt 35 is trained,the belt 35 moving in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The uncurling belt 35 may be a round belt formed of rubber or othersuitable material hav ing a frictional surface. The uncurling belt 35may not only be round, but may have a square, rectangular or othercross-section presenting similar opposing surfaces to the fabric inwhich case the grooves of the pulleys 23 and 32 must match the shape ofthe belt to prevent its twistmg.

Any suitable cutting device, illustrated diagrammatically at 36, may beprovided to trim the edges of the fabric if desired. The edges of thefabric may be joined in any manner such as by sewing with a conventionalsewing machine 31 to produce an overedge stitch 38, in which case thefabric edges will abut each other when the seam is laid flat.Alternatively a chain stitch may be used and the fabric edges willoverlap, when'the seam is laid flat.

When the uncurler is employed in producing a tube of fabric from a flatfabric the fabric is doubled with its curled edges facing each other inany suitable doubling machine. The lower edge of the fabric is fed underthe arm 26 under a suitable guide and between the uncurling plate 9 andthe uncurling belt 35. The upper edge of the fabric is fed over the arm26 over a suitable guide and between the uncurling plate #9 and theuncurling belt 35. The clearance between the uncurling plates 9 and I9and the uncurling belt 35 is such that the belt will frictionally engagethe curled edges only of the fabric. The belt 35 operates at a linearspeed greater than the linear speed of the fabric as it travels throughthe uncurler, and uncurls the edges of the fabric as they pass betweenthe belt and the uncurling plates. The edges of the fabric may betrimmed and are then fastened together. After the fabric has been dyedor otherwise treated it may be rolled in the form of a tube for storageor the joined edges of the fabric may be unfastened by cutting, trimmingor in any other manner and the fabric restored to the flat state.

One particular physical arrangement of elements has been shown, but manyothers are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.For example, the cutter 36 and sewing machine 3'! may be on a differentlevel from the uncurling apparatus and suitable guides or rollers may beprovided to lead the fabric from one level to another. Instead ofoperating the uncurling apparatus with the uncurling plates 9 and It andthe uncurling belt 35 in a horizontal plane as shown, the entireapparatus may be operated with the uncurling plates and the uncurlingbelt at any angle up to and including the vertical. Furthermore, it maybe desirable to feed the fabric into the uncurler and take it away fromthe uncurler by means of guides or rollers, but the number andarrangement of guides or rollers will depend entirely on the plantlayout and the fabric treatment being applied.

In the drawings the uncurling belt 3-5 travels at right angles to thedirection of travel of the fabric. It is unnecessary that the belt andthe fabric edge be at right angles so long as the travel of the belt hasa component at right angles to the direction of travel of the fabric.

The uncurling machine may be constructed of any suitable materials.Although bolts and nuts have been shown as the fastening means betweenthe members they may be replaced by any other suitable fastening means,such as welding, at those points where adjustability is not desired.

It is to be understood that the' foregoing detailed description is givenmerely by way of illustration and that many variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. Apparatus for uncurling fabric edges com prising an uncurling platehaving a flat surface, another uncurling plate having a flat surfacespaced from and generally parallel 'to the flat surface of said firstuncurling plate, means for varying the distance between said uncurlingplates, said uncurling plates being adapted to guide the curled edgesbetween them, an endless belt .passing between and spaced from said flatsurfaces to frictionally engage and uncurl the fabric edges, and meansfor limiting the motion of the uncurling plates toward each other sothat the endless belt engages the curled edges only of the fabric.

2. Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a fabric comprising an uncurlingplate having a flat surface, another uncurling plate having a 'flatsurface spaced from and generally parallel to the flat surface of saidfirst uncurling plate, said uncurling plates being adapted to guide thecurled edges between them, one end of said first uncurling plate beingbent at an angle away from said other uncurling plate to present asmooth bearing surface to a fabric, said iuicurling plates being mountedfor relative motion towards each other, a spring for urging saiduncurlingplates towards each other, an adjustable stop limiting themotion of the uncurling plates towards each other, and a driven endless,beltlike uncurling member of circular cross-section passing between saiduncurling plates to frictionally engage and uncurl the fabric edges.

3. Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a fabric comprising an upperuncurling plate having a fiat surface, a lower uncurling plate having aflat surface spaced from and generally parallel to the flat surface ofsaid upper uncurling plate, said uncurling plates being adapted to guidethe curled edges between them, one end of said lower uncurling platebeing bent at an angle away from said other uncurling plate to present asmooth bearing surface to a fabric, an adjustable mounting carrying saidlower uncurling plate for permitting vertical movement thereof, apivotal mounting for the upper uncurling plate, a spring for urging theupper uncurling plate toward the lower uncurling plate, adjustable stopmeans limiting the motion of the upper uncurling plate, and a drivenendless, beltlike uncurlin member of circular cross-section passingbetween said uncurling plates to frictionally engage and uncurl thefabric edges.

JOHN H. POPE.

NELSON W. CARTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,206,975 Avis Dec. 5, 1916 2,321,010 Cohn June 8, 19432,467,281 Walter et a1 Apr. 12, 1949

